Protective cover for base-ball-playing fields and the like.



R. L. HEDGES & A. M. BRANCH PROTECTIVE COVER FOR BASE BALL PLAYING FIELDS AND THE LIKE.

APPLICATION FILED DEC. 20, 1912.

Patented June 3, 1913.

BSHEETS-SHEET 1.

QWZ/ZZMJZEZ R. L. HEDGES & A. M. BRANCH.

PROTECTIVE COVER FOR BASE BALL PLAYING FIELDS AND THE LIKE.

APPLICATION FILED DEC. 20, 1912. 1,063,199., Patented June 3,1913.

3 BHEBTSSHEET 2 EI EALIQYAYAYA' .W. .mvde 15 .m .6. \J/ 4 9 R. L. HEDGES & A. M. BRANCH.

PROTECTIVE COVER FOR BASE BALL PLAYING FIELDS AND THE LIKE.

APPLICATION FILED DEO.20,1912.

Patented June 3, 1913.

IS-SHEET 3.

ill?

ROBERT L. HEDGES AND ARTHUR BRANCH, OF ST. LOUIS, MISSO 1:4,

PROTECTIVE COVER FOR BASE-BALL-PLAYING FIELDS AND THE LIKE,

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patent?dg unoe3},1199113a Application filed'lpecember 20, 1812. Serial Ito. 787,870.

To all whom it may concern:

'Be it known that we, Bonner L. Havens and ARTHUR M. BRANCH, citizens of the United States, residing at the city of .St. Louis, State of Missouri, have jointly invented certain new and useful Improvements in Protective Covers for Base-Ball-Playing Fields and the Like, of which the following is a specification, referencebeing had to the accom anying drawings, forming a part hereof? This invention relates to certain new and useful improvements in protective covers for base-ball playing fields and the like.

It is very enerally known that frequently regularly so eduled ames of base-ball and the like are necessari y postponed by reason of the wet or muddy condition of the playin field, and especially that portion thereo known as the diamond, caused by more or less heavy rainfall shortly preceding the scheduled time or date of the game, resulting in considerable financial loss to the owners or proprietors of such fields. An easily operable and handledprotective cover for such fields-a cover which may be quickly and readily both placed in operative protective position over the field or area to be protected and afterward removed from such position for the playing of a game has hence been greatly wanted and desired.

It is, therefore, the principal object of our present invention to v rovide a practically water-proof cover iiaving, when in fully opened or operative position, preferably the form substantially or approximately of a low pyramidal or cone-shaped tent adapted, when ,in operative position, to cover preferably the diamond and portions of the playing field adjacent the bases and base-lines, and suitable readily manipulated means, preferably in the form of a mast and an enlarged or elongated boom from which the cover or tent is suspended, adapted not only to carry the cover or tent into and out of operative position over the area to be protected, but also to support the cover or tent in full open, operative position over such area, tie cover or tent when in fully open,

operative position protecting the covered area from the elements and sheddin rain therefrom, whereby such area or p ayin field is maintained in playing condition an the necessity of postponing ball-games on account of wet grounds is obviated.

To the above purpose and with this and other ob ects in view, our present invention resldes briefly in the provision of a suitable mast located at a suitable point away from or adjacent the pla 'ng field to be covered or protected, an el dngated pivoted boom operatlvely connected to the mast, afield cover of canvas or other suitable preferably water-proof material flexibly suspended from and carried by the boomand adapted preferably to assume the form, when fully opened out and in operative positlon, of a low tent of pyramidal 'or cone shape, theinclined or oblique surfaces of which are adapted to shed the rainfall or water outwardly i and away from the area covered thereby, and suitable means, preferably in the form of an electrically-operated winding drum having a flexible "cable connected thereto and reeved through'suit-able sheaves located on the boom at different points throughout its length, for lowering and raismg the boom to properly position the cover or tent in open operative position over, or in closed inoperative position away from, the protected; in the provision of suitable means for detachably or releasably anchoring of securing the cover or tent at its free edges to and upon the field when it' is in open operative position over the playing area'to be protected; in the provision of means'for playing area to be covered and automatically breaking the electrical circuit to the boom-operating means and thereby preventing the further raising or elevating of the boom on the load'or stress put upon the boom reaching a certain predetermined limit, that is to say,a certain predetermined fixed load or stress which the mast and boom may, and are gaged and constructed "to, raise ano carry with safety: in the provision of suitable sheaves and cables for quickly drawing the cover or tent toward and fiatwise upon or against the boom on the disreadily understood that the practical application of our new cover is not confined to that particular use.

In the accompanying drawings-F1gure 1 is a plan View illustrating a portion of a base-ball field and showing our new cover suspended from its carrying boom in open or operative position thereover and anchored thereto; Fig. 2 is a side elevational view of our new cover suspended from its carrying boom in open operative position over,'and with its free edges anchored to and upon, the field, showing also, in dotted lines, the position of the cover and Its supporting and carrying boom after the anchoring means for the cover have been released or disengaged from. and the boom raised or elevated some distance above the surface of, the field; Fig. 3 is a side elevational view of the boom and its mast with the cover raised from the field and drawn toward and in partially closed position upon the boom, showing also, in dotted linees, the position of the boom and cover immediately prior to the lacing upon the boom of the cover in fully closed position; Fig. 4 is a detail plan view of theouter end portion of the boom, showing the arrangement of the tie or lacing straps for lacing the cover upon the boom in fully closedposition; Fig. 5 is a side elevational view of the mast and boom with the cover fully folded or laced in closed position upon the boom preparatory to its removal from the playing field for the playing of a game; Fig. 6 is an enlarged cross-sectional view taken approximately on the line 6-6, Fig. 5; Fig. 7 1s a side elevational view of the boom and base of the mast with parts broken away, illustrating the electrical connections to the boom-operating motor and to an automatic cut-ofl' or switch utilized for breaking the motor circuit and thereby preventing the further raising or elevating of the boom when, the cover or tent being anchored to and upon the field, the load or stress put upon the boom in supporting and stretching the cover or tent to the desired degree-to fully open operative position-has reached a certain predetermined limit-the limit of load or stress which it may safely raise and carry; Fig. 8 is an elevational view of the upper end of the mast, showing the arrangement of the cable sheaves thereupon; Fig. 9 is a horizontal sectional view taken approximately on the line 99, Fig. 8; Fig. 10 is a detail plan view of the outer end of the boom, showing the cable sheaves mounted thereupon; Fig. 11 is an enlarged detail sectional view showing a portion of the lower edge of the cover when in open operative position anchored, and the means for detachably anchoring the same, to the field; Fig. 12 is a plan view of a removable plug which is adapted to be positioned in and able base 3 firmly fixed in position.

close one of the anchoring holes or pipes when the cover is out of service; and Fig. 13 is a detail sectional view taken approximately on line 13-13, Fig. 12.

Referring now by numerals to the said accompanying drawings, A designates the playing field to be covered, and located a suitable distance to one side thereof and preferably at a point adjacent to the grand stand a suitable preferably built-up structural steel mast 1 mounted upon a suitable platform 2 arranged to rotate upon a suit- Also mounted upon platform 2 is a suitable electric motor 4, and located upon platform 2 and adjacent motor 4 and operated thereby is a suitable winding drum 5 having attached thereto, and adapted to windingly receive, a suitable cable 6 for operating raising and lowering-an elongated'preferably structural steel boom 7 pivot-ally connected at its inner end to preferably platform 2 (see particularly Fig. 7). Mast .1 at

its upper end is pivotally connected to the upper end of, and supported by, a firmly fixed obliquely-disposed leg 8 and also steadied by means of suitable guy ropes or cables 9, as will be Well understood.

Arranged upon ashaft 10 mounted in the upper end of must 1 (see particularly Figs. 8 and 9) is a series of independently rotatable sheaves 11-preferably four in number, and centrally arranged'on a shaft 12 mounted on the upper end of mast 1 (see particularly Figs. 8 and 9) to the-rear of sheaves 11 is a single rotatable sheave 13.

Pivoted or otherwise suitably connected at one end'to the outer end or head of boom 7, as shown in Figs. 7 and 10, is a pair of rearwardly-disposed links 14 carrying at their other end a shaft 15 having mounted thereupon a series of independently rotatable sheaves l6preferably three in number.

Cable 6 is suitably fixed at one end to winding drum'5 and fromthence extends upwardly to and over sheave 13, then outwardly and around firstsheave 16, then rearwardly to the upper end of mast 1 and around first sheave 11, then outwardly and around second sheave 16, then again rearwardly to the upper end of mast 1 and around second sheave 11, 'then again outwardly and around third sheave 16, then along boom 7 to and around one of two sheaves 17 suitably mounted upon and carried by boom 7 a suitable distance from the outer end thereof, as shown particularly in Figs. 2, 3, and 5, then obliquely rearwardly to the top of mast 1 and around third sheave 11, then obliquely outwardly to and around second sheave 17, then along boom 7 to and around a suitable sheave 18 mounted and carried by boom 7 at a suitable point between its inner end and said sheaves 17, thence again obliquely rearwardly to the upper end roaar of mast 1 andaround fourth sheave 11, and

. then a ain obliquely outwardly to boom 7,

where ts free end is fixed at a point, as at 19 (see particularly Fig. 8), adjacent sheave 18. Sheaves 17 and 18 are, as shown in Figs. 2, 3, and 5,- located a suit-able distance apart and preferably at points on 0 posite sides of the longitudinal center of oom 7, and thus through the reevin of cable 6 through sheaves or pulleys 16, 1 and 18, boom 7 is held from sag 'ng between its ends and the strain and pu upon boom 7 is distributed throughout its length.

Connected in any suitable manner to the inner end of boom 7 is a comparatively heavy coiled spring 20, and connected to the outer end of sprin 20 is a link or member 21 having a depen ing finger 22 adapted to form a contact or switch-arm, as hereinafter more fully appearing. Suitably attached to link 21 is one end of a flexible cable 23 which extends outwardly within boom 7 to and around a sheave 24 suitably journaled at the outer end of boom 7, as shown articularl'yin Fig. 7.

Free y suspended from boom 7 by means of cable 23 is field-cover or tent B, cable 23 at its outer end being. attached or fixed preferably to the center of cover or tent B, as shown. Cover B is formed preferably of canvas or other suitable flexible material and has, when in fully opened or operative position, preferably the shape substantially or approximately of a low pyramidal or coneshaped tent and is of such size as to preferably cover the diamond and parts of the playing field adjacent thereto, or those parts of the field which are usually occupied and traversed by the base-runners and infielders. Cover B may be, if desired, and preferably is, reinforced by suitable straps or cords 25 radially arranged and attached directly to the cover on the underside thereof, as shown in full lines in Fig. 11 and in dotted lines in Figs. 1 and 2.

Secured in any suit-able manner to the edges of cover B are short flexible rope or cable sections 26, each provided at its outer end with a suitable loop 26 adapted to receive headed securing or anchoring pins 27 Positioned in the ground or field at proper points around the area to be protected by cover B are short obliquely inwardly disposed tubes 28 of suitable material, preferably metal, the lower ends thereof being embedded or anchored in concrete blocks 29 arranged in the ground some distance below the surface thereof. These tubes 28 are adapted to receive pins 27 after the same are passed through loops 26, whereby cover or tent B is firmly anchored in open operative position over the field. These tubes 28 are arranged in the ground with their upper ends slightly below the lane of the surface thereof, and when pins 2- are removed therefrom and'cover B moved from the playing field, the recesses in the ground or field immediately above the upper ends of tubes 28 are closed by means of suitable preferably rubber disks or plugs 30, as shown in Fig. 13. These disks or plugs 30 are comparatively small, and as the top surface thereof when the same are arranged in said recesses is flush with the surface-of the playing field, no obstructions or depressions are offered to the players on the field.

Secured to the four corners of cover B are flexible cords-or cables 31 which, when cover B is in open position. over the field, are positioned or placed beneath the cover, these cords being utilized for drawing or folding cover B into position against the under side of boom 7, 'as shown in Fig. 3, when the cover has been released from ongagement with the ground and is to be olded up and swung with boom 7 to one side of the playing field.

The electrical connections to motor 4 are diagrammatically illustrated in Fig. 7.

Leading from a suitable generator 32 to the field "0 motor 4 through an ordinary cut; out switch 33 is a pair of conductors 3435.

36 is a double-pole, double-throw or reversing switch which is adapted to contact with a pair of contacts 37-38 and also with a pair of contacts 3940. Leading from contact a, with which switch 33 contacts to finger 22 of link 21 is a conductor 46, .and leading from contact 40 to a contact late 47 located on the under side of boom is aconductor 48. Finger or switch-arm 22 of link or member 21 is normally in contact with plate 47. Switch 33 is shown in on or closed position, completing the circuit from generator 32 to motor4. Switch 36 is shown as contacting with contacts 3738 or as in boom-raising position. When by reason of the combined weight of cover or tent B on spring 20 through cable 23 carried by boom 7 and the stress or pull put upon spring 20 and boom 7 in stretching coverB to fully open position, cover B be ing anchored to the field, spring 20 is elongated, tlre circuit through plate 47 and finger 22 will be broken and it is then impossible to further raise or elevate boom 7, boom 7 being held in such fixed elevated position with cover B anchored and stretched to fully open position by winding drum 5, which is worm geared to motor 4. It will be understood, however, that when ran the

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switch 36 is reversed to now complete the motor circuit through contacts 3940, boom 7 may be lowered, irrespective of the position of finger or switch-arm 22.

The operations incident to the removal of cover B from the field and the placing of cover B in open operative position over the field are as follows: Assume that cover B also relieves the pull through cable 23 on spring 20, spring 20 thereupon at once returning finger or arm 22 into electrical en-' gagement with plate/7. Pins 27 are now withdrawn from tubes 28 and detached from ropes or cables 26. Switch 36 is again reversed to contact with contacts 3738, and boom 7, through winding drum 5 and cable 6, elevated or raised into the position shown by dotted lines in Fig. 2, cover B folding upon itself and being then suspended in a vertical position beneath the elevated end of boom 7 and away from the surface of the field. Cables 31, which depend from the corners of cover B, are now reeved through suitable sheaves 49 on boom 7 ad jacent its inner end and drawn inward to bring cover B out of said vertical position and up against and longitudinally immediately beneath boom 7, or into the position shown in full lines in Fig. 3, cables 31 being then secured in any suitable manner in such position. Switch 36 is now again reversed to contact with contacts 39-40 and boom 7 again lowered by the o erator into a substantially horizontal position parallel with the surface of the field or into the position thereof shown in dotted lines in Fig. 3. Prior to this lowering'movemcnt of boom 7, however, a longitudinal series or plurality of straps or laces 50 are positioned on the field immediately below the line occupied by boom 7' when so lowered, as shown in Fig. 3. Straps or laces 50 are now brought and tied around boom 7, as shown particularly in Fig. 5, cover B being thereby firmly secured or laced in fully closed or folded position to and beneath booms 7. Boom 7' carrying fully folded or closed cover B is now swung laterally to one side of the field, as shown by dotted lines in Fig. 1, plugs or disks 39 are then placed in the recesses above pipes 28, and the field is free for the playing of a game, with that portion of the field which has been protected by cover B in proper condition to be played upon. When cover B is to be laced in position to protect the diamond and the other mentioned portions of the playing wardly, so that its outer end occupies a position apprgggimately above the center of the area to be protected, after which laces or straps 50 are untied and removed, leaving cover B in partially foldedposition beneath boom 7. Switch 36 is again reversed to contact with contacts 37-38, or thrown into the position thereof shown in Fig7, boom 7 elevated or raised to theposition thereof shown in full lines in Fig. 3, and cables 31 then released, cover B now assuming the vertical position thereof shown by dotted lines in Fig. 2. Switch 36 is again reversed to now contactwith contacts 39-40 to permit boom 7 to be lowered. Cover B is now drawn out over the area of the field to be protected, after which pins 27 are inserted through loops 26 at the outer or free ends of cables 26 and positioned in tubes 28, the free edges of cover B bein thereby anchored to and upon field A. witch 36 is once again reversed to now contact with contacts 3738 to permit boom 7 to be elevated or raised until cover B is stretched into fullyopen operative position over the area to be protected, or into the position thereof shown in Figs. 1 and 2, when through thepull of cable 23, spring 20 is elongated and finger or switch-arm 22 drawn out of electrical contact with plate 4=7,where upon the further elevating movement of boom 7 is at once stopped and boom 7 held .in such fixed position, with cover B fully stretched in open operative position, by the engagement of winding drum 5 with motor 4. It may be here stated that mast 1 and its boom 7 are preferably constructed and gaged to carry and elevate a certain prefield, boom, 7 is now swung laterally mdetermined load. This load is equal approximately to combined weight of cover B and a pull of anchoring ropes 26 suflicient to maintain or hold cover B, when anchored to the field, in fully open or protecting position" over the field, spring 20 bein correspondingly gaged. It will, there ore, be seen that were no means provided to break the electrical connections to boom 7 and thereby prevent the further elevation thereof on the load or stress upon it reaching said predetermined limit, mastl might be overbalanced and hence topple over. It will, of course, be understood that switch 33 is properly manipulated whenever required to break or complete the circuit to motor 4 from generator 32.

An apparatus of our improved construction iscomparatively simple, is easily operated, and fully fulfils the objects hereinbefore stated.

It will be understood that minor changes in the arrangement, construction, and comwe claim and desire to secure by Letters Pat ent is:

'1. In an apparatus of the class described, a mast, a pivoted boom operatively associated with said mast, a ground-protecting cover carried by said boom, said cover, when in open osition, depending and being suspended 20m said boom, "and means having engagement with said boom and said cover adapted to draw said cover in closed position longitudinally upon said boom; substantially as described.

2. In an apparatus of the class described, a mast, a pivoted boom operatively associated with said mast, a ground-protecting cover carried by said boom, said cover, when in 0 en position, depending and being suspen ed from said boom, means for controlling the pivoted movement of said boom, and means having engagement with said boom and said cover adapted to draw said cover in closed position longitudinallyupon.

said boom; substantially as'described. v

3. In an apparatus of the class described, a mast, a pivoted boom operatively associated with said mast, aground-protecting cover carried by said boom, said cover, when in open position, depending and being suspended from said boom, means for controlling the pivoted movement of said boom,

means for releasably anchoring the edges of said cover to the ground when in' open position, and means having engagement with said cover and said boom adapted to draw said cover in closed position longitudinally upon said boom on the disengagement of said anchoring means; substantially as described.

4. In an apparatus of the class described, a fixed base, a mast rotatably mounted on said base, a boom pivotally connected to, and rotatably movable with, said mast, a groundprotecting cover carriedby said boom, said cover, when in open position, depending and being suspended from said boom, means for controlling the pivoted movement of said boom, means for releasably anchoring the edges of said cover tothe ground when in open position, and means having engagement with said cover and said boom adapted to draw said cover in closed position longitudinally upon said boom on the disengagement of said anchoring means; substantially as described.

5. In an apparatus of the class described, a ground-protecting cover, means for anchorin the edges of said cover to the groun and means connected to the central part of said'cover for raising or lowering the same relatively to the surface of the ground; substantially as described.

6. In an apparatus of the class described, a groundrotecting cover, 'fneans for anchorin t e edges of said cover to the roun and means connected to said cover or elevatingthe central part thereof and holding the same in elevated position above and away from the surface of the ground; substantially as described.

7. In an apparatus of the class described, a ground-protecting cover, means for anchoring the edges otsaid cover to the ground, and a pivoted boom connected to said cover for elevating the central part thereof, and holding the same in elevated pos1t1on above and away from the surface of the ground; substantially as described.

.8. In an apparatus of the class described, a ground-protecting cover, means for anchorlng the edges of said cover to the ground, a pivoted boom connected to said cover for elevating the central part thereof and holding the same in elevated position above and away from the surface of the ground, and means for operating said boom; substantially as described.

'9. In an apparatus of the class described, a ground-protecting cover, means for anchoring the edges of said cover to the ground, a pivoted boom connected to said cover for elevating the central part thereof and holding the same in elevated position above and away from the surface of the ground, and electrically-operated means for operating said boom; substantially as described.

10. In an apparatus of the class described, a ground-protecting cover, means for anchoring the edges of said cover to the ground, a pivoted boom connected to said cover for elevating the central part thereof and holding the samein elevated position above and away from the surface of the ground, electrically-operated means for operating said boom, and means for breaking the electrical connections to said means on the load or stress put upon said boom reaching a predetermined limit; substantially as described. v

11. In an apparatus of the class described, a ground-protecting cover, means for anchoring the edges thereof to the ground, a pivoted boom, electrically operated means including a movable contact member for raising said boom and a flexible member running over said boom and connected at its opposite ends to said movable contact member and to said cover; substant ally as described.

12. In an apparatus of the class described, a ground protecting cover, means for anchoring the edges thereof to the ground, a

ivoted boom, electrically operated means including a movable contact member for raising said boom, a flexible member running over said boom and connected at its opposite ends to said movable contact member and to said cover, and a resilient member connected to said movable contact member and opposed to said flexible members; substantially as described.

13. In an apparatus of the class described, a ground-protecting cover, means for anchoring the edges thereof to the ground, a

ivoted boom, electrically operated means including a movable contact member for raising said boom, a flexible member running over said boom and connected at its 

